Question about MPH programs..

[Quizbowler1]

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I need a little help here. I'm presently a undergrad, and am interested in pursuing an MPH before going to med school. Could someone please give me the names of the best programs that do not require a professional degree and accept an appreciable amount of students straight from undergrad? I've noticed that Harvard only accepts people with post-graduate degrees, and Columbia and Yale seem to strongly prefer it. Would I have a chance at Columbia with a 3.9 GPA and a GRE that's comparable to a 38 on the MCAT? Thanks in advance.

 

[edfig99]

you probably stand a chance out of undergrad if you have numbers, though a lot of schools prefer that you have some type of "life experience" since it makes the process much more worthwhile.

i just applied to the columbia program and am waiting to here. it's an electronic application and all you lose is something like $50 (plus money for test score transcripts) if you don't get in...just apply...take a chance 😉

cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/sph

 

[abw]

Hey!
I applied last year for mph to some of the same programs, with a very good gre, but no where near your gpa, and no experience. You probably have a good shot at yale (i got in and you're probably a much better applicant than me) Harvard's professional requirement is for the mph, but if you look at their public health school, they have many similar degrees that don't require experience (Msc I think) for things that are normally public health majors (epi, maternal health, health behavior, etc.). If you apply there do not (and I really mean DO NOT) write in your essays that you want to go to medical school. They really frown on the m.p.h. to m.d. route. For Columbia, I applied to a couple programs where the experience was "strongly preferred" not "required", and wound up getting a reject. When I called about it they told me the only thing that kept me out was my lack of experience. If you're still in the application stages, I'd try for UMichigan and UNC as well. They're both very well respected schools. I think what you're doing is a great idea. IMO, I think everyone going to med school should take at least some public health classes to understand the social responsibilities of medicine before they focus on the individual.

 

[Adcadet]

I only seriously looked at Minnesota. The U of MN definitely takes people straight out of undergrad, and I doubt you'd have trouble getting in with your numbers as long as you can show interest in public health. It seems all of my classmates have some public health exposure, although some are rather vague (one of my classmates woroked for two years as a clinical microbiology tech). As abw mentioned, it's probably wise to NOT portray yourself as using the MPH as a stepping stone in your application to any program. Just focus on how the MPH will help you achieve your goals.

Quiz - you realize that many medical schools will let you do an MPH in 1 year during medical school, and that some fellowships do as well (not sure about residencies)? While I think you get more out of the program in two years than you can in one year, it might save you a year to do other stuff. Also, I doubt it's any more difficult to get into MD/MPH programs than it is to get into the MD program in the first place. I've never heard of anybody at Minnesota not being allowed to do an MPH between their second and third years of medical school.


And yeah, I definitely think all doctors should have significant public health experience, especially in epidemiology. It's a bit scarry how little epi is taught in some medical schools.

 

[calbear2002]

My friend just got a call from Yale EPH saying that she did not have enough work experience to apply to their Global Health program (she's a senior in college). They suggested she choose something else like Policy or Epi. I think Epi will basically be ok if you are straight from undergrad. Concentrations like managment, policy, international health, etc.. might be better for someone with work experience so they can share their experiences in class. I've only been working for a year, but I've heard that it helps a lot to know a about the workings of public health in those concentrations.

 

[DC kid]

I just got into Columbia's School of Public Health for their MPH in Sociomedical Sciences. I graduated in Dec (a semester early) from Cornell and have been working in a pediatric emergency department on and off for two years. I didn't have nearly as high stats as you did so I say go for it. They have some great programs.

 

[ColumbiaMPH]

There are plenty of people in the program that come straight out of undergrad even though the "strongly recommend" that you have two years of health care experience. I am in health policy and management, and they are letting me finish the 1.5 yr. curriculum in a year since I am applying to med school (still the same number of credits, but they are being much more flexible with me on requirements and they are letting me use my year of AmeriCorps as my practicum, which they don't usually do--look into it if you are interested). With your stats, I am sure that you will be able to get in, although I know some departments are more competitive than others.

 

[lotanna]

EPI ROCKS!!!!!!! 😛

 

[DW]

Originally posted by lotanna
EPI ROCKS!!!!!!! 😛

get your proc freq on.

 

[pathdr2b]

Originally posted by DW
get your proc freq on.

I'll have one order of Kaplan-Meier with some stratified randomization for desert!

 

[lola]

Originally posted by pathdr2b
I'll have one order of Kaplan-Meier with some stratified randomization for desert!

aaaaahhh. NOOOOOOOO!!

 

[PublicHealth]

Are those of you who are currently in MPH programs planning to apply to medical school? I, too, am an MPH student who wanted to gain additional research experience after college. I plan to apply to medical school this summer, and ultimately pursue a career in preventive medicine.

I could not have made a better decision. Public health has completely changed how I view medicine and health, and has taught me to appreciate the importance of preventive medicine and a population-based healthcare. With courses such as Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Public Health Law, Environmental Health, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Health Administration, Community Mental Health -- the MPH degree, in my opinion, is invaluable in providing a comprehensive graduate education that will prepare you well for a career as a physician.

When looking into programs, it's useful to find a niche that suits your interest. Some programs are known for certain fields (e.g., Yale is known for Global Health and Psychosocial Epidemiology). Whatever you decide, good luck!

PH

 

[Adcadet]

PH - I too did an MPH (Epi) after college - I'm finishing it up now and will start med school in the fall. I think it's definitely great preparation for med school.


OK, this is on the back of a t-shirt our student government sold as a fundraiser. Now sure if one of my classmates wrote this stuff or if it came from somewhere else.

10. It's like real science, without all the pesky experiments

9. Making the worls a better place through statistics

8. We're 95% certain we'll get jobs

7. Where diarrhea and cancer meet

6. It's about the things you love and their odds of killing you

5. Dying? We'll tell you what you did wrong

4. Causes, not cures

3. We're proc freq-ee

2. No, it's not about the fu&%in' skin

1. Adjusted for sex

 

[sunflower79]

You epi folks are freqs. Loved the top 10 list.

Say, I'm thinking of taking a year off med school for the MPH. Can you give me a quick lay of the land in terms of what top schools have which emphasis?

And what do you think of the following:
UC Berkeley
JHU (a friend hated the ppl there)

How do docs utilize their MPH degrees in practice? I'm leaning toward a mix of clinical practice and community intervention. I'd love to hear specific examples!

cheers,
sunflower79

 

[lola]

harvard's epi department:

strengths: nutritional epi, chronic disease epi, research, environmental/occupational epi, cohort studies, most areas excellent

weaknesses: infectious disease epi (unless they've recruited new faculty in the last couple of years), community epi, involving ms students in research/department functions

i can't really comment on departments other than epi.

 

[Adcadet]

re: Harvard ID - I know Minneosta lost a pretty good HIV researcher to Harvard, so I would suspect the Harvard epi ID is at least a bit stronger now. Minnesota, meanwhile, isn't so good unless perhaps you're talking bioterrorism and Michael Osterholm.

Minnesota's strengths (as I see it): cardiovascular epi (perhaps the strongest in the nation historically), community trials (smoking and for obesity prevention), smoking Epi (my area). Genetic epi is a newer area and looks promising (used in both cardiovascular epi and cancer epi).

Minnesota's weaknesses (as I see it): infectious disease (unless you count this: www.cidrap.umn.edu)

Minnesota now has a "public health practice" major intended for their MD/MPH students. These students go through "baby" epi and "baby" biostats, which I think is a shame. I know some of the student opt to take the more rigorous biostats and epi courses. Link: (www.meded.umn.edu/admissions/index_MD-MPH.htm).

 

[lotanna]

As for me, if p>0.05, the it is significant, so just give me the SAS to go 😛

I dont need specifics, just let me know the 95%CI, and i'm good to go.

Hey i think all med students need strong foundation in epi, cause once u do, u'll never look at JAMA studies the same way again, funny the kind of results people publish🙄

 

[Adcadet]

Originally posted by lotanna
As for me, if p>0.05, the it is significant, so just give me the SAS to go 😛

I dont need specifics, just let me know the 95%CI, and i'm good to go.

Hey i think all med students need strong foundation in epi, cause once u do, u'll never look at JAMA studies the same way again, funny the kind of results people publish🙄

Uh, I suspect you mean if p<0.05...

And I think epi people will realize that study design, flaws, limitations, etc make it imperitive to read beyond the p-value.

 

[pathdr2b]

Originally posted by Adcadet
[BAnd I think epi people will realize that study design, flaws, limitations, etc make it imperitive to read beyond the p-value. [/B]

Spoken like a true epidemiologist! I guess this makes you a Type 1 error type of guy!

By the way Adcadet, what is your area in epi?

 

[Adcadet]

Originally posted by pathdr2b
Spoken like a true epidemiologist! I guess this makes you a Type 1 error type of guy!

By the way Adcadet, what is your area in epi?

Yup.

My area is smoking, smoking cessation, post-cessation weight gain, and smoking cessation among those with schizophrenia. My lab-based work is nicotine fetal toxicology/immunotherapy of sorts.

 

[airecken]

Hi, does anyone have any thoughts on London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine?

Thanks!

 

[lola]

the lshtm has an excellent reputation. i looked into getting my drph there before deciding to go to med school. in general, masters and doctoral degrees in england are geared toward research rather than classwork. not sure what the masters program at lshtm is like, though.

 

[lotanna]

Originally posted by Adcadet
Uh, I suspect you mean if p<0.05...

And I think epi people will realize that study design, flaws, limitations, etc make it imperitive to read beyond the p-value.

😱 yeah